Despite the handover of more than 1 million guns following Australia's worst massacre, research shows gun owners have restocked, importing more than 1 million firearms over the past decade.

In the ACT there are more than 7000 licensed guns, a figure which surprised some 666 ABC Canberra listeners when it was recited to them on Jo Laverty's Summer Drive program.

Dave True from the ACT branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia said many shooters who handed in their guns under the Howard Government's buy-back scheme would have restocked.

"Normal, legal sporting shooters would have been looking to buy another item to use for their sporting purposes," he said.

"Slowly but surely they would have decided which would suit their purpose and then slowly but surely have taken up and bought another firearm."

Australia may not have the same type of gun culture displayed by ardent gun owners in the U.S.A - where ownership is not just for sport but protection and a right protected by the constitution - but some feel frustrated by the attitudes of anti-gun commentators.

Michael, a hunter and target shooter who called the 666 Drive program during the discussion said the debate about gun ownership was highly polarised.

"It depends on which side of the political fence you sit on because it's become politicised as well," he said."

"You just can't have a reasonable conversation and reflect upon [the idea that] this is my hobby, this is my sport, I'm a responsible and heavily taxed citizen because of my sport and I will do you no harm."

Elizabeth said, "You must be joking. Why would anyone want a gun in ACT. Now I am frightened. I thought we were better than USA and a role model."

While Emma thought the number was "frightening".

Dave True likened the number of guns owned by a single shooter to the contents of a golf bag.

"Some of us do have a substantial amount of firearms," he said.

"At the end of the day we use them for a lot of different disciplines, a lot of different hunting type activities. A golfer can't play a round of golf with just his putter."

The University of Sydney study into the levels of gun ownership in Australia will be used by the gun control task force set up by United States vice-president Joe Biden in the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre.